Indonesia Police Arrest 75 at ‘Gay Party’ as Amnesty Slams Crackdown

Bogor, Indonesia – June 25, 2025 – Seventy-five people were arrested in a police raid on a private “gay party” in the Indonesian city of Bogor, prompting sharp condemnation from human rights organizations, including Amnesty International.

The raid, which took place on the evening of June 22 at a rented house, targeted what police described as a “gay gathering” involving consensual sexual activity. Among those detained were 74 men and one woman. Authorities claimed to have confiscated condoms, lubricants, sex toys, and a decorative sword used for dancing—items presented in a press conference as evidence of a violation of Indonesia’s controversial 2008 Anti-Pornography Law.

“This raid is a blatant violation of the right to privacy and non-discrimination,” said Usman Hamid, Executive Director of Amnesty International Indonesia. “No one should be criminalized or harassed based on their real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.”

Indonesia does not criminalize homosexuality at the national level. However, its vague anti-pornography statutes and local moral policing have increasingly been used to target LGBTQ+ gatherings and individuals. In 2023 and 2024, similar raids took place in Jakarta and Surabaya, where dozens were detained without formal charges and often subjected to public shaming.

Authorities claimed the party had been organized via social media and advertised as a “male-only” event. Despite no reports of criminal behavior or non-consensual acts, attendees may face charges under local morality laws.

LGBTQ+ rights advocates warn the growing pattern of raids—combined with legislative attempts to tighten internet censorship—suggests a systematic effort to erase queer spaces in both physical and digital environments. “We are seeing private, consensual gatherings being treated as criminal conspiracies,” said Yohana Arbi, a Jakarta-based human rights lawyer. “It’s an alarming development.”

The Indonesian government has faced increasing international scrutiny over its record on LGBTQ+ rights. While some provinces, like Aceh, enforce Sharia law banning same-sex relations outright, even in other regions, local police have wide discretion to pursue moral offenses.

Amnesty has called for the immediate release of all 75 detainees, the dropping of all charges, and an end to discriminatory policing practices.